Barcelona eye Ravel Morrison

We’ve rejected an offer from Newcastle and it is now down to how that progresses. His demands are unrealistic as far as we are concerned

Sir Alex Ferguson

The Manchester United starlet has failed to agree a new deal at Old Trafford and Barca boss Pep Guardiola is considering an audacious swoop for the teenage sensation.

Morrison is regarded as the biggest natural talent to come through the United ranks since Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

But he has been dogged by off-field problems and question marks over his attitude and Sir Alex Ferguson, despite standing by him and being reluctant to let him go, is close to running out of patience.

Guardiola has studied videos of Morrison, 18, and sent one of his scouts to watch him in action earlier this season.

He has been asked to be kept informed of Morrison’s situation with a view to making a bid for the midfielder, who will become a free agent in 02 six months’ time.

News of Barca’s interest in Morrison will stun United boss Ferguson, who will be reluctant to lose one of his most promising youngsters to his main European rival.

United have rejected a £1m bid from Newcastle for Morrison, who is also a target of several other European and Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa.

A source said: “Some of the biggest clubs in Europe have shown genuine interest in him, including Barcelona, so it will be interesting to see what happens. He isn’t short of options.”

Fergie claims the player has turned down a new deal with the champions and has made unrealistic personal demands.

But Starsport understands that, despite talks taking place about his future, no offer has been put on the table.

It is understood Morrison is keen to quit United because he has been left out of the first-team picture in recent weeks.

This was expected to be his break- through season but he has seen his career stall, despite United suffering crippling injury problems. He has made just two Carling Cup appearances this season and reckons Fergie has not given him a fair crack of the whip.

To make matters worse he’s been forced to train with the reserves and feels he might have no choice but to leave United.

Paul Scholes’s sudden decision to come out of retirement will push Morrison even further down the pecking order.

It remains to be seen if Barca make a bid for Morrison, but the Magpies are expected to make an improved bid next week in the hope of securing a deal.

Fergie said: “His agent has been working hard to get him another club. We’ve offered him terms which he has refused so that is where it is.

“We’ve rejected an offer from Newcastle and it is now down to how that progresses. His demands are unrealistic as far as we are concerned.”

Morrison found himself in court twice in five months and hit out at Fergie in November on Twitter after being left on the bench for a reserve game, stating he “couldn’t wait until the end of the season’’.

This earned him a public dressing-down from Wayne Rooney who responded: “It might come sooner than you think!”